Should Sunscreen Be The Holy Grail Of A Good Skincare Routine?
I will admit that I’m a convert when it comes to using sunscreen on a daily basis. I can’t pinpoint exactly who or what finally convinced me, but after binge-watching so many skincare videos about acne and how to achieve clear skin, it became obvious that sunscreen was a recurring theme.
There was a time when my face was covered with acne related marks and spots, and initially when I tried sunscreen I honestly thought it was more a hassle than anything. I mean it was usually a sticky, goopy experience and always seemed to leave a white pasty mess on my face. So I had stopped using it for a long time.
Fast forward to present day, I don’t go a day with wearing sunscreen and that happened when I learned more about it and how to overcome the application pain points that prevented me from enjoying the true benefits. Sun protection was obvious, but the gradual fading of hyperpigmentation caused by acne, and more even skin tone was totally unexpected.
Who knew?
This article is not meant to be very scientific, but it’s important to understand some key facts about how sunscreen works, deal with some common misconceptions, and learn practical ways to incorporate it into a solid skincare routine.
Why wear sunscreen?
If you thought that sunscreen was something that you could put on your skin and be free to frolic for endless hours in the sun, then understand that type of behavior is dangerous and you need to stop doing so immediately.
Sunscreen is a short way of saying sun protection factor or what is more commonly known as SPF, which according to the Skin Cancer Foundation helps protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UV radiation. That’s the general definition that most people know.
More specifically, the SPF number indicates how long it would take for the sun’s UV rays to damage the skin or cause skin cancer, compared to not wearing sunscreen. A common example is if you wear a sunscreen with say, SPF 15 and go out in the sun it will take 15 times longer for your skin to burn than if you were not wearing sunscreen.
So don’t think that by wearing sunscreen, you’ve become invincible to the rays of the sun. What it does is buy you some time before getting sunburn.
Therefore, the higher the SPF number the longer you will be protected from the sun, and that explains why SPF30 and higher are normally recommended for spending longer hours outdoors. You may have also noticed that on the label of most sunscreen products, there are normally other recommended sunscreen measures included such as covering up with clothing, wearing hats, and sunglasses.
There is also the term “broad spectrum” factor that you must become familiar with. This just means the sunscreen of your choice provides protection from both UVA and UVB light, the two most dangerous sun ultraviolet rays responsible for damaging the skin. Fortunately, broad spectrum SPF is the global standard and is the best indication to us the consumers, how effective our SPF will be.
Aside from protection from sun burns and skin cancer, another perk from wearing sunscreen is its effect on acne-prone skin. Consistent use of sunscreen has been found to help with:
- Fighting signs of discoloration or hyperpigmentation
- Reducing photosensitivity- sunburn as a result of using acne medications
That said, for those who have discarded sunscreen because it was found to be the reason for a breakout, rest assured wearing sunscreen itself is not to blame.
Does the type of sunscreen matter?
That brings us to sunscreen ingredients or the different types that you may or may not have realized exist on the market. We spoke about SPF number and broad spectrum SPF, but another factor to consider before trying sunscreen is whether it’s physical or chemical.
Physical sunscreens work by forming a barrier on the skin that blocks the sun rays from penetrating. The two main ingredients to look for are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Persons with very sensitive or acne prone skin gravitate towards physical sunscreens because they are more gentle but on the flip side, leave a white cast (sometimes white-purple) that can be time-consuming to blend out, especially for persons of color.
On the other hand, chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun rays before it can damage the skin, provided by ingredients like avobenzone and octisalate. This type of sunscreen has been known to cause irritation for some people, like it did to me when I was experiencing bad acne breakouts a few years ago. But it is preferred by others that want a sunscreen that blends out easier and wears better under makeup.
That said, the choice between mineral or chemical sunscreen is a very personal one. You may have tried chemical sunscreen and it caused irritation so you switched to physical. But then later on you may have been curious about trying another brand or formulation of chemical sunscreen, gave it a go and that worked out great a second time around. True story by the way.
The point here being that the best sunscreen is one that you can wear consistently every single day.
Instead, spend more time deciding what SPF number would be ideal for your lifestyle.
Always do what works best for you
If you are not in the habit of using sunscreen daily, or you once were and stopped, it could well be that you found some of the recommended practices unsustainable or you didn’t find a way to work around them. So I want to identify some of the common issues.
| Expert Recommendations | Practical Advice |
| Apply sunscreen to your entire body each day before sun exposure (about a shot glass) | Imagine how much sunscreen you would need to go through to accomplish this. If like most people, this is not feasible for you, be more targeted. Focus instead on applying sunscreen to areas that will be more directly exposed to the sun like the face, ears, neck, and arms. |
| Apply sunscreen every two hours | This depends on your lifestyle and should be a must for those who spend most of their time outdoors. For other persons, applying sunscreen this frequently may be too time-consuming or simply impossible due to location etc. In such cases, it’s best to focus on liberal application in the morning as part of a skincare routine. |
Outside of expert advice, there are some misinformation that you may have heard and that needs to be clarified once and for all.
Firstly, that sunscreen clogs pores and leads to acne outbreaks. This is indeed possible but from personal experience that normally occurs when sunscreen is not removed from the skin properly during the cleansing process. If practices such as double cleansing is employed especially at night to better dissolve stubborn makeup, dirt, and sunscreen then clogged pores would no longer be an issue.
Next, that sunscreen isn’t necessary if you spend all day indoors. This may be the biggest mistake most people make especially now that working from home is so prevalent.
The main reason is that UVA rays, the most prevalent form of UV radiation, are said to be present at all hours of the day and can penetrate cloudy, foggy weather, even glass. So let’s say you’re driving in your car and the windows are tinted, you can still get sunburn that way too.
Not to mention light emanating from a cellphone or laptop. These are hidden, often overlooked sources of harmful rays that can wreak havoc on the skin overtime if you’re not aware and neglect using sunscreen.
Ultimately is sunscreen right for you?
I know I seemed like the biggest sunscreen advocate throughout this article, which I am. But only because I’ve experienced firsthand how beneficial sunscreen is.
Sunscreen is right for everybody-man, woman, and child.
If you took nothing away from this article remember that if you have skin issues like acne or you’re trying to maintain youthful, healthy skin then sunscreen is a must.
And if you’re using medication in the form of active skin ingredients but not using sunscreen then you’re wasting your money and literally begging for your condition to worsen on top of that.
Sunscreen should be a holy grail product in your skincare routine if taking care of your skin is a high priority. So I encourage you to make the selection, develop a skincare routine that incorporates sunscreen and start reaping the benefits.
You really have nothing to lose.
If you share my love for sunscreen please share your results. I’d love to know your experience, and even your favorite picks.
